INDIA EDITORIAL PAGE SPORTS BJP scared of truth, we’re not afraid of FIRs: Tejashwi Yadav The unpredictability inherent in Trump’s foreign & trade policies represents a significant challenge for India Gill unlikely to feature in Duleep Trophy: Reports Page 5 Page 10 Page 20 FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 BRIEFLY | Pages 20 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA LC Police file charge sheet in law college gang-rape case: Kolkata: Kolkata Police have filed a charge sheet after 58 days in the Kasba Law College gang rape case. The 170-page main chargesheet, along with a total of 650 pages of documents, contains allegations against a total of four people, including the main accused Manojit Mishra. The charge sheet has been submitted to the Alipore Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court. Page 3 E xternal Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar said on Saturday that the India-US trade negotiations are still underway but "we have some red lines", as the country stares at a steep 50 per cent tariffs from 27 August. Speaking at the 'Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2025', EAM Jaishankar said: “What we are concerned about is that the red lines are primarily the interests of our farmers and, to some extent, of our small producers. We, as a government, are committed to defending the interests of our farmers and our small producers. We are very determined on that. That's not something that we can compromise on.” Mr Jaishankar also observed that US President Donald Trump's way of dealing with the world, even dealing with his own country, "is a very major departure from the traditional orthodox manner of doing so". SILIGURI | AGENCIES Washington, 23 August External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Mr Jaishankar said: "We've not had a US President who's conducted foreign policy as publicly as the current one. That itself is a departure that's not limited to India. President Trump's way of dealing with the world, even dealing with his own country, is a very major departure from the traditional orthodox manner of doing so." The EAM also stated that the United States didn't discuss Russian oil puchases with India before imposing 25 per cent additional tariffs as penalty FILE PHOTO for the same. Mr Jaishankar underlined that India would continue to take decisions independently on energy. “It's funny to have people who work for a pro-business American administration accusing other people of doing business. If you have a problem buying oil or refined products from India, don't buy it,” he told the gathering. “Nobody forces you to buy it. Europe buys, America buys, so you don't like it, don't buy it,” Mr Jaishankar said. (With input from agencies) US President Donald Trump has announced the nomination of longtime aide and trusted political strategist Sergio Gor to serve as the next United States Ambassador to India, as well as Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. In a statement posted on Truth Social, Mr Trump said: “I am pleased to announce that I am promoting Sergio Gor to be our next United States Ambassador to the Republic of India, and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs.” “For the most populous Region in the World, it is important that I have someone I can fully trust to deliver on my Agenda and help us, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. Sergio will make an incredible Ambassador. Congratulations Sergio!” Mr Trump wrote. BHUBANESWAR | 24 August 2025 Attempts to build a certain narrative: Justice Reddy on being called pro-Maoist AGENCIES I have not done anything in the past that would make anyone label me as a supporter of Naxalism. New Delhi, 23 August Former Supreme Court Judge (Retd) B. Sudershan Reddy, the Opposition’s candidate for the Vice Presidential election next month, on Saturday dismissed allegations of having a pro -Maoism outlook, dismissing such remarks as “attempts to build a certain narrative”. “I have not done anything in the past that would make anyone label me as a supporter of Naxalism,” Justice Reddy told IANS. “Calling me a Naxalite supporter has no basis,” he said, observing that there could be some misconception about a particular judgment that he authored. “ That wasn’t even my judgment. I merely authored it, and it was a judgment of the Supreme Court. Three attempts were made to nullify it, all of which failed. A review petition was filed and also dismissed,” said Justice Reddy. The 79-year-old former FORMER SUPREME COURT JUDGE B. SUDERSHAN REDDY apex court judge said those making such comments, perhaps, didn’t get a chance to read the full judgment. On Friday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah trained his guns on Justice Reddy, accusing him of having supported Maoism through his judicial pronouncements. Speaking at a public event in Kochi, Mr Shah referred to Justice Reddy's 2011 Salwa Judum judgment, which had declared as "illegal" and "unconstitutional" the state-sponsored arming of young tribal men as special police officers in Chhattisgarh. The ruling ordered that such militias be disbanded, stressing that the state must address the root causes of the insurgency through lawful governance rather than vigilante groups. In this context, Justice Reddy said: “I won’t say much ~ he is the Union Home Minister. Perhaps he didn’t get the chance to read the full judgment. Maybe someone briefed him incorrectly or they are trying to build a certain narrative.” Justice Reddy, during the interview with IANS, said that his foremost priority after assuming office would be to protect and defend the Constitution of India, calling it the highest duty of the Vice President. Dharmasthala case: SIT arrests complainant for ‘misleading’ authorities Another cloudburst wreaks havoc in Uttarakhand 56th GST Council meet on 3-4 Sept, to decide on 2-slab taxation proposal AGENCIES STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Dehradun, 23 August New Delhi, 23 August Uttarakhand witnessed another bout of heavy rain, triggering a cloudburst & causing extensive devastation in Tharali block of district Chamoli on Saturday. One man was missing while a girl was reported to be trapped under debris in her home. Heavy rains worsened conditions in Sagwara village, Kotdweep & Chepado markets of Tharali block in Chamoli as a cloudburst resulted in massive deposit of debris & muck brought down by local rivulet Dunari. As per the reports, the incident occured at around 12.48 a.m. The rivulet was in spate due to continuous rain, triggering a cloudburst. (Details on Page 9) The 56th meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, will be held on 3-4 September, to decide on the Group of Minister’s (GoM) proposal for a two-slab GST structure of 5 per cent and 18 per cent. At present, in India, there is a four-slab GST system ~ 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent, and 28 per cent ~ along with an additional cess on sin and luxury goods. Under the new structure, 'merit' goods and services will attract 5 per cent GST, while most other items (standard) will come under an 18 per cent standard rate. A higher 40 per cent levy will remain on a small set of Mangaluru, 23 August In a major development, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has arreste d the unidentified complainant, also referred to as the "mask man", in connection with the Dharmasthala case, sources confirmed on Saturday. The sources stated that the complainant was arrested on charges of providing false information related to the Dharmasthala case. SIT officials, who interrogated him for more than 15 hours since Friday, concluded that he had been misleading the authorities. According to sources, the complainant has been identified as C. S. Chinnaiah, also known as Chenna. Later in the day, the Belthangady Court on Saturday sent the complainant in the Dharmasthala case to 10 days of SIT custody. The sources revealed that he confessed to being lured by certain individuals to make allegations and press for a specific course of investigation. Karnataka Home Minister G P a r a m e s hwa r a t o l d rep or ters that p olice is investigating to unearthen the network behind in the case and confirmed the arrest of the complainant. " I t i s t r u e t h a t h e (t h e complainant) has b e en arrested, he is in police custody, cannot give any information as investigation is ongoing,” he said. India to manufacture 5th-gen fighter jet engines with France’s Safran, says Rajnath Singh AGENCIES LED BY THE AERONAUTICAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (ADA) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PRIVATE INDUSTRY, THE AMCA IS SET TO BE INDIA’S FLAGSHIP FIFTH-GENERATION FIGHTER JET PROJECT. New Delhi, 23 August Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that India will begin manufacturing engines for fifth-generation fighter aircraft in partnership with French aerospace giant Safran. The Union Minister said the move marks a major step in India’s efforts to strengthen its indigenous defence and aerospace capabilities. “Today, we have taken another step forward towards building fifth-generation fighter aircraft. We are now moving towards manufacturing their engines in India itself, in collaboration with the French company Safran,” Singh said during a media event in the | Trump names Sergio Gor as US ambassador to New Delhi New Delhi, 23 August New Delhi: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Saturday arrested a Karnataka MLA under the provisions of the PMLA in connection with an alleged illegal betting case (both online and offline), the agency said. KC Veerendra was arrested in Gangtok, Sikkim, and was produced before a magistrate, where the agency officials obtained a transit remand to produce him before a Bengaluru court. The arrest followed searches conducted by the ED's Bengaluru Zonal Office on Friday and Saturday at 31 locations across the country, including Gangtok, Chitradurga district, Bengaluru, Hubli, Jodhpur, Mumbai & Goa (including at five casinos), in connection with the case against Veerendra and others over alleged illegal online & offline betting. Page 6 NEW DELHI US trade talks on; interest of farmers top priority: EAM STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE ED arrests Karnataka MLA in illegal betting case: | national capital. Mr Singh also invited global firms to participate in India’s expanding defence manufacturing sector, assuring them of government support. He appealed to foreign companies and investors to invest in India’s vibrant defence manufacturing ecosystem. "We will provide all necessary clearances and extend hand-holding support,” Singh said. Highlighting the larger vision behind 'Make in India', the minister noted that "Our Make in India initiative is not limited to India alone. When you Make in India, you make for the world.” The announcement comes a few months after the Defence Ministry approved the execution model for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme (photo). • The GoM has earlier agreed that the existing 12 per cent and 28 per cent slabs will be scrapped under the new regime. • The objective is to move toward a simpler and more transparent GST regime. so-called sin goods. Examples include alcohol, tobacco, drugs, gambling, soft drinks, fast food, coffee and sugar. A sin tax is a special tax that the government puts on such goods. The purpose is to discourage people from using them and to reduce the harm they can cause. According to an official statement, the Council meeting comes amid the Centre's mega push to reform the GST taxation regime's structure by retaining just two slabs, from the four at present. According to Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who leads the six-member GoM, “we have recommended a two-slab GST structure and submit our recommendations to the GST Council”. The GoM agreed that the existing 12 per cent and 28 per cent slabs will be scrapped under the new regime. The objective is to move toward a simpler and more transparent GST regime. "The undersigned is directed to refer to the above subject and to convey that the 56th Meeting of the GST Council will be held on 3rd and 4th September, 2025," an official memorandum issued by Arvind Shrivastava, Secretary to the Government of India and ex officio Secretary to the GST Council read. "The details of the venue of the meeting and agenda items for the 56th Meeting of the GST Council and Officers' Meeting will be communicated in due course of time," the memorandum stated. On National Space Day, PM Modi pledges to set up Indian astronaut pool STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 27 August Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday greeted the nation on the occasion of National Space Day, celebrated annually on 23 August to commemorate the Chandrayaan-3 mission's successful landing on the Moon's South Pole. In an address via a video message, PM Modi expressed immense pride in India's remarkable achievements in the space sector. “From Aryabhata to Gaganyaan reflects both the confidence of India’s past and the resolve for its future… In a short span of time, National Space Day PM Narendra Modi addresses the nation on the occasion of National Space Day 2025, in New Delhi on Saturday. ANI has become an occasion of enthusiasm and attraction for India’s youth, which is a matter of national pride,” he remarked. “We recall with great pride our nation's achievements in the space sector. It is also a day to laud the contributions of our space scientists,” PM Modi said, adding: “Carving one milestone after another in the space sector... this has become the nature of India and its scientists." India's historic Chandrayaan-3 mission made the country the fourth nation to land on the Moon and the first to touch down near its south pole. Mr Modi said that just three days ago, he met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who unfurled the national flag at the International Space Station, filling every Indian with pride. He said that in his interaction with Group Captain Shukla, he witnessed the boundless courage and infinite dreams of the youth of New India. To advance these dreams, the Prime Minister announced that India is setting up an “Astronaut Pool.” First module of Bharatiya Antariksh Station unveiled by ISRO: Marking the second National Space Day, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Saturday unveiled a model of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) in New Delhi ~ India’s planned space station and a landmark project in the country’s space ambitions. The unveiling marks a significant step forward in India’s space exploration journey. The agency aims to launch the first module of the space station by 2028, and targeting to make it fully operational by 2035.